oJuly 12, 13, and 14, 2019 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) - The recreational season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 12, 2019, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 15, 2019.

July 19 and 20, 2019 (Friday and Saturday) - The recreational season opens again at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 19, 2019, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 21, 2019.

WHY THESE LIMITED OPENINGS ARE OCCURRING:

The limited openings are based on the final rule for Amendment 43 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region(Amendment 43)(83 FR 35428).

The final rule specified recreational and commercial annual catch limits for red snapper beginning in 2018 and subsequent years.

DURING THE LIMITED OPEN SEASONS:

·The total annual catch limit will be 42,510 fish.

·The recreational annual catch limit will be 29,656 fish.

oThe recreational bag limit will be one red snapper per person per day. This applies to private and charterboat/headboat vessels (the captain and crew on for-hire vessels may retain the recreational bag limit).

Zella Helton of Mims had a banner day of fly fishing outside Port Canaveral when she landed back-to-back potential tippet class world record black drum.

The first drum weighed 42 pounds, 5 ounces and two hours later Helton boated the second fish weighing 51 pounds, 8 ounces. Both catches are pending records with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).

Helton and her boyfriend Troy Perez, also of Mims, found a large school of black drum concentrated close to the beach in only 10 feet of water. Perez, noted as one of Florida’s top inshore fishing guides, knew immediately any number of the fish was potential records on fly tackle.

Using a 12-weight flyrod with a 20-pound tippet and a Dan Johnson shrimp pattern, Helton hooked the 42-pounder and fought it for 45 minutes before getting it to the boat.

The tippet in a monofilament fly line leader is a tied section with the weakest point. IGFA, the international records keeper at Dania Beach, offers records in seven tippet line strengths in men and women divisions.

Under IGFA rules, a record catch must be weighed on shore, so Perez placed the drum in a large onboard aerated live well and headed back to Port Canaveral where the fish was weighed on certified scales, witnessed and released at the docks.

Florida regulations allow the possession of only one black drum over 24 inches in length so after releasing the first catch Perez called the IGFA to get permission to catch another potential record.

“We headed back to the same spot along the beach and the school was still there,” Helton said. “This time I hooked an even bigger one.”

She used the same fly rod and shrimp pattern but the second drum gave Helton a much tougher fight.

“It was like fighting an anchor. It kept going to the bottom,” said Helton, who received the Women’s Division Championship for 2016 in the Florida Sport Fishing Association at the Cape Canaveral fishing club’s awards dinner in January. “She wanted to stay with the school.”

Again Helton subdued the fish and it was placed in the live well for the ride back to the Canaveral docks where it weighed in at 51 pounds, 8 ounces. It too was released in good condition.

With both catches submitted as records, Helton stands to set one IGFA record with her first catch before it is “retired” and replaced with the 51-pound 8-ounce fish. She also owns the IGFA 16-pound tippet record with a 47-pound, 8-ounce black drum she took on fly gear outside Canaveral in March 2016.

The current women’s 20-pound tippet record of 37 pounds, 8 ounces was set in Louisiana in February, 2014.

Protect the delicate ecological environment, do not pick up or remove plants, animals, or historical artifacts

Fish only during daylight hours (daylight hours begin a 1/2 hour after sunrise and end a 1 hour before sunset)

Remove your own trash

Do not clean fish on CCAFS or KSC property

You are limited to two fishing poles per fisherman

Fish at your own risk, alligators, snakes and wild boars inhabit both CCAFS and KSC, so be careful

Do not swim or surf on CCAFS beaches

Firearms, explosives, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited

Badged personnel must escort non-badged guests

No cooking or fires

Fishing is prohibited:

When islands are closed to entry due to bird nesting (will be posted)

Standing on or anchoring to any portion of the Banana River Bridge

On the north side of NASA Causeway

From any CCAFS Banana River Bank

For commercial purposes for any species, including crabs

When posted as closed due to space operations on either CCAFS or KSC for safety reasons

Vehicle and Boat Restrictions:

.Only non-motorized boats are allowed, launch boats only from the designated area on the NASA Causeway and from behind Hangar AF

Boats are restricted to the main body of the Banana River on the south side of NASA Causeway and are not allowed into any inland water entrances along the west side of the Banana River, stay out of areas marked “restricted”, “no entry” or hazardous operational areas

Fishing is allowed in the west body of the Banana River from the South side of the NASA Causeway to the Ship Channel markers, you are not allowed into any island water entrances along the West bank. Crossing the Ship Channel from West to East is prohibited

Park vehicles in designated areas only on the NASA Causeway. Park only on the South side, at least 25 feet off the roadway

Trailers for boats launched at Hangar AF must be parked in the lot south of Bldg #60740 near the picnic pavilion

Authorized fishing/beach areas:

.Authorized fishing/beach areas: Fishing and beach walking are limited to 1/4 mile either side of the applicable Dune Crossover

Camera Road A Dune Crossover: Located 1/2 mile south of Cape Canaveral Lighthouse - do not park vehicles to block the dune crossover

Camera Road B Dune Crossover: Located 1/10 mile north of Cape Canaveral Lighthouse - do not park vehicles to block the dune crossover

Complex 34 Dune Crossover: Located approximately 9 miles north of the south Gate just off Phillips Parkway, the beach access is located northeast of the blockhouse and the pad - do not park vehicles to block the dune crossover

Navy Port Area: Fishing is authorized at the Trident and Poseidon Wharfs only, fishing is controlled by the Commanding Officer, NOTU. Fishing “Open” or “Closed” signs will be posted at the port entrance - personnel violating this restriction will lose their privileges for a minimum of one year

NASA Causeway pole fishing from the bank is authorized on the south side shoreline of the Banana River in the areas posted for fishing

Fishing permits issuance/authorized times:

.If going thru CCAFS’s Pass and ID Office on NASA Causeway thru Gate 1, Fishermen may bring up to seven guests (4adults and 3 children) and obtain a permit from the Pass and ID Office during on-duty hours, register their guest(s) and receive a one day Fishing Pass for each guest, this pass allows access to-and-from the fishing areas only (by the most direct route) and is not valid anywhere else. CCAFS’s Pass and ID Office hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday, except federal holidays.

If going thru KSC’s Badging Station located on SR 405 Gate 3, Fishermen may bring up to seven guests and obtain a permit from the Badging Station duty hours, register their guest(s) and receive a one day Fishing Pass for each guest, this pass allows access to-and-from the fishing areas only (by the most direct route) and is not valid anywhere else. KSC’s Badging Station hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday, except federal holidays. When KSC Badging Station is closed Fishing Passes are issued at the perimeter gates.

Fishing on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge/KSC and particularly in the No-Motor Zone requires fishermen to possess a valid Refuge Sport Fishing Permit which can be obtained at the refuge Visitor Center or on the Web athttp://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/. Or see the U.S. Fish and Wildlife "Fishing Regulations."